When I started to read The Safekeep, the debut novel by Yael van der Wouden, I realized within the first few pages where the story was headed. The big surprise was how much it drew me in anyway. This novel, which explores themes of secrets and self-discovery in post-World War II Europe, is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I loved its psychological intensity, complex female characters and historical backdrop. It's also a slow burn that manages to tell a World War II